Chad Danos

This is a great question, Gaelle!
I wanted to respond to bump it in hopes of getting you more responses.
Any certain part of the country you are interested in?

I personally feel you can’t go wrong with an Embassy Suites. A quality, free breakfast!

Anthony, Vectorworks has the ability to import DWG files in two ways, depending on how you expect to use the information. A direct import enables you you manage the geometry as if you created it, and can directly convert the lines and shapes to smart site specific objects. A referenced import is like an ex-ref (external referenced) file. Which…[Read more]

Jay, Not sure where you got the Permaloc prices, but Permaloc’s edging tends to be equal or less than steel. Especially for residential. Call the Permaloc offices and they should help you out.

No problem, Craig. We know we are not the solution for every designer on every job. We just try to make the highest quality products for as many varied applications as we can, so when the designer does need edging, he knows where to turn.
Thanks for all of your valuable input to the discussion.

Edging will also keep grass from growing into the bed area, as well as keep mulch from migrating into the grass. Everything in it’s place!

A quality edging will maintain the designer’s original intent. Each time a bed area is edged by hand the size and shape of the bed is altered by some degree. After years of hand maintenance the lines the designer originally drew won’t look the same.

Easily installed DIY!

Aluminum is a much better product, overall than either plastic or steel.  Aluminum won’t rust, rot, or breakdown. It is lightweight, flexible, easy to work with. It is safer, with a rounded bead on top and locking stakes.
Important to remember that all aluminum edging is not created equal though. Certain manufacturers make it to thin, and use o…[Read more]

Goustan, Almost 25 years ago, we studied from this book, Planting Design: A Manual of Theory and Practice , which seems to still be used and latest edition shows to be around 2004. Not at all a tropical planting resource, but does provide the guidance you describe. 

Not to be picky, but you are actually looking to become LEED accredited, not certified. LEED certifies buildings and accredits people.
Having said that, I am a LEED AP and the process is fairly simple. You can do it in one step, taking two tests at once to be an AP, or in two steps, becoming a GA first and then an AP later.
Check out this page for…[Read more]

Richard’s right. Vectorworks Landmark has a couple of tools that would help in this. The first is the plant placment mode for triangular array, which once you create the shape, you convert it to a plant, with the triangular array on and it will arrange the plant symbols, according to the specified spacing in that area. Another tool that helps in…[Read more]

Roland, The good news is that you can use Vectorworks on a PC as well as a Mac. Yes, it started in 1985 as MiniCAD and was Mac only, but that changed in the mid 1990’s when it became cross platform. There are getting started guides available on the Vectorworks webiste http://www.vectorworks.net/training/getting-started-guides (free) and the software has…[Read more]

John, I would recommend Include Software’s Asset if you are within the design/build realm…or you may also want to take a look at Fasttrack by AEC Software for project management within the LA’s construction document production process.

Scott, Every one of your examples would be well met with Vectorworks Landmark with Renderworks. The Site Model object would provide you the 2D grading plan, while also providing the 3D model which can be analyzed for cut and fill, water flow and slope categories. The Plant objects have 2D and 3D representations as well. With Renderworks, you have…[Read more]